11 Must-Know Tips for Dining in Italy from a Local

I’m Anthony. I’ve been living and traveling in Italy for nearly 3 years now. I’ve explored all 20 Italian regions and love sharing what I know so others can have a great experience and enjoy this amazing country as I have. Today, we’re talking about eating in Italy.

collage of 6 photos of various foods around italy — *Italian food from Turin all the way to Calabria*

Here are some essential things about Italian dining culture that everyone should know before their trip to avoid surprises, be more informed, and plan better. During consultations with clients to help them plan their trips, I always provide this information in my post-consultation notes. Note: when you see the word “restaurant” below, I’m referring to anywhere you pay to eat that’s not at your house. “Ristorante” means something specific, which I’ll get to.

Be sure to also check out my other article, 7 FAQs for Italy Travel.

1. Types of Eating Establishments

Bar

This is what Americans or Brits would call a cafe. A bar is where Italians get coffee in the morning and have an aperitivo before dinner. They may have small food items like sandwiches or small slices of pizza, but nothing that will blow your mind. Some bars offer a more extensive selection of food, including hot dishes, especially in larger cities. They typically don’t have menus, and everything they have for food items is what you see in the window display. They always have a refrigerator stocked with water, soda, and beer as well.

classic italian bar — *Here’s a typical Italian bar. Display case with breakfast and small lunch or snacks items, an espresso machine, beer, wine, and spritz.*

Ristorante

An Italian ristorante is an eating establishment, typically open only for dinner but sometimes lunch. It has a more formal atmosphere, with a more professional and service-oriented wait staff, sometimes offering smaller, more creative (i.e., expensive) dishes. Be careful here, because in English, the term “restaurant” just means “a place to buy food that has tables at which you can eat.” In Italy, if you ask for a restaurant recommendation, you’ll be directed to somewhere higher end when you may be looking for something casual.

on the left, carbonara and amatriciana, on the right, the inside of a restaurant in Rome (massimo's al 39) — *Massimo’s al 39 in Rome. One of my favorite sports. It’s a ristorante, but with good prices and traditional dishes.*

There are exceptions here, of course and one of my favorite ristorantes in Rome, Massimo’s al 39, is very much reasonably priced and makes traditional classics.

Osteria and Trattoria

Yeah, I know, these are two different things, but from the perspective of a tourist, they’re basically the same (and I challenge anyone in 2024 to apply these dated terms to current establishments and tell me there’s really a difference). Osterias and trattorias tend to be more informal than ristorantes, with more traditional menus, a relaxed vibe, and more authentic staff (like the owner’s daughter who isn’t going out of her way to wow you). They also tend to have more regional food options, and for that reason, I prefer them over ristorantes. If you want to eat the local dishes (which you should in Italy), find an osteria or trattoria.

typical osteria in Italy — *Trattoria Amici Miei in Milan. Highly recommend!*

Gray Areas

There are, of course, blurred lines and exceptions to these categories. For example, some bars will serve lunch dishes at 1 pm, often catering to locals on their lunch break who just want a hot meal at an inexpensive price. Sometimes you can find some hidden gems with these bar lunches (often advertised as “tavola calda,” literally “hot table”), but they’re typically meals prepared the night before or the morning of and reheated for lunch.

Other exceptions would be a bar that serves gelato, making it a “gelateria.” Or establishments catering to tourists, with a sign out front saying “Bar – pizzeria – ristorante” where you could get a full meal, a pizza, or just coffee. It really depends. Just know, a place that sells everything probably excels at nothing.

Planning a trip to Italy soon? Be sure to check out all my recommendations over on the Destinations page!

2. Italian Breakfast

Italians eat breakfast up until about 11:30 am. Instead of a savory/salty English or American breakfast, Italians go for a small, sweet breakfast. When eating breakfast out, an Italian breakfast takes place at a “bar” (what would be called a cafe in English) and typically includes a coffee (in the form of espresso or cappuccino), plus some kind of sweet pastry, usually a cornetto. The pastries are freshest in the morning, but you can get them all day.

classic italian breakfast (cornetto on the left, cappuccino on the right) — *Classic Italian breakfast. Cornetto and a cappuccino.*

3. Lunch and Dinner Times

Italians usually eat lunch at 1 pm, but most restaurants will be open by 12 pm. Typical hours for restaurants are 12 pm – 3 pm, then 7 pm – 11:30 pm. If you find a restaurant that’s open all day, it’s likely not going to be the most authentic experience. It might not necessarily be bad, but it will be catered to tourists. Pizzerias, or restaurants that also have pizza on the menu, will usually not serve pizza at lunch. Italians consider pizza to be a dinner item because traditionally it’s baked in a big wood-fired brick oven that takes hours to heat up, and they would rather only do that once per day (before dinner hours). However, in many tourist areas, you can find pizza at lunch too.

4. Italian Menus

When eating at a ristorante, osteria, or trattoria, the menu will typically be sectioned as follows: antipasto (appetizer), primi (first courses, usually pasta), secondi (second courses, usually meat dishes), contorni (sides), and dolci (desserts). If the place serves pizza, there will be a separate section for pizza. You don’t have to get each course; some people just get a primo (pasta dish), and that’s it.

example of a primo and secondo in italy — *Panzotti with Grana Cream, Truffle, and Pistachios, a primo (left) and Boneless Lamb in White Sauce with Truffle, a secondo (right)*

Speaking of menus, Google Translate is your friend. Have Italian downloaded ahead of time, and use the camera function on Google Translate to translate the menu. Pro tip: if the restaurant doesn’t have an English menu, it’s a good sign that it’s authentic.

5. Water

Water isn’t free in restaurants. You pay for it, and it comes in a bottle. You can choose between still or sparkling, or “naturale” or “frizzante.” Some places will give you free tap water if you ask, but it’s very rare. It’s not because the tap water isn’t safe (Italy has some of the cleanest tap water). It’s just a cultural thing.

6. Aperitivo Culture

It’s common for Italians to go for aperitivo between 6:30 and 8:30 pm, when they’ll get a drink and some small snacks. Common drink choices include a spritz (Aperol, Campari, Limoncello, Hugo), beer, or wine. If you order a drink from a bar at this time of day, it will in most cases come with some food at no additional cost, such as potato chips, peanuts, little sandwiches, or a small meat/cheese selection. A single aperitivo can cost from 4 to 10 euros. Anything more than that, and you’re either paying for a great view or paying to be surrounded by other tourists who aren’t aware they’re overpaying.

classic italian aperitivo (campari spritz, chips, olives, and taralli) — *The perfect aperitivo. Campari spritz, olives, chips, and taralli. This costs about €7*

7. Tipping

Tipping is generally not a thing in Italy or anywhere in Europe. I get this question all the time. The short answer is no – there is no expectation of tipping in Italy. However, if the wait staff at the restaurant goes above and beyond and you have an awesome experience thanks to them, it won’t hurt to leave a few extra euros.

Credit card payments are always done with a POS (point of sale) machine and there’s no receipt to sign with a tip. If you don’t have cash and want to leave some extra, tell them to add the tip amount to the final bill.

That being said, if you’re at a restaurant in Italy and trying to pay, and they tell you that the “service charge is not included, just so you know…,” they’re trying to get you to tip because they know you come from a tipping culture. If the bill says ‘coperto,’ the service charge is already included, and they’re just trying to take advantage of you.

8. Reservations

If you already know where you’re going ahead of time, then yes, you should make reservations. In Italy, it’s very common to make restaurant reservations regardless of how high-end the restaurant is. This is even more important if you’re in a larger group and in peak season such as July or August. However, if you’re traveling solo, as a pair, or in a group of four, you can usually find something last minute. Sometimes it’s fun to just walk around and find something – it may turn into the place you keep going back to.

I usually make reservations by calling the restaurant. In high tourist cities (Rome, Florence, Venice, Positano) they will speak enough English to take a reservation over the phone. Alternatively, you can check the restaurant’s website to see if they have an online portal to take reservations, or a WhatsApp number to text.

9. Credit Cards and Cash

Most restaurants, stores, and pubs will happily accept credit cards for amounts over 5 to 10 €. But for small things like coffee, bottles of water, street food, or walking beers, it’s better and sometimes required to have cash. Plus, trying to use a credit card for a 1.60€ cappuccino is just offensive to an Italian bar owner.

Some independent eateries will be cash only – why? Well, it’s cheaper in the sense that they won’t pay processing fees. It’s also cheaper because they can keep the transaction off the books and avoid paying taxes. This is very common, and the Italian government is notoriously bad at collecting taxes.

Another note about credit cards – at a restaurant, an Italian waiter will never take your credit card away from the table and run it. They’ll either tell you go pay at the register (the “cassa”), or they’ll bring the POS machine to your table.

10. Coperto

Most dining establishments in Italy have a “coperto,” which is essentially a cover charge if you sit at a table and have someone serve you. It ranges between 1.50 to 3.50 euros and is usually included on the bill, shown as “coperto,” and is charged per person. This fee covers the cost of bread, utensils, and table settings. While it might seem unusual if you’re not used to it, it’s a standard practice in Italy, so don’t be surprised when you see it on your bill.

picture of an example restaurant receipt in Italy with coperto — *This is a receipt for a meal for 3, showing a charge (highlighted )for three copertos.*

Be sure to check out my other post about getting cash in Italy here.

11. Finding the Best Restaurants

How do you find the best restaurants in Rome? Venice? Florence? Well, it’s probably not through social media. In fact, if the place has been “infected” by social media and you see a line around the block with people taking pictures of the food and the storefront in the background, it’s what I would classify as good, not great, and not worth the wait. Instead, step away from the tourist crowds, find a local, and using Google Translate, politely ask them, “Excuse me, can you please recommend a typical and simple restaurant in this area serving typical food?” Why simple? Because you don’t want trendy. You want to go to a place that’s been around for at least 50 years, where the owner is working and serving simple, traditional dishes.

Buon appetito!

Dining in Italy is more than just a meal; it’s an experience that immerses you in the rich culture and traditions of this incredible country. By understanding the nuances of Italian dining—from the types of establishments to the timing of meals—you’ll be well-prepared to enjoy authentic culinary delights. Remember, the best experiences often come from stepping away from tourist traps and seeking out local favorites. So go ahead, savor each moment, and let your taste buds lead you on a delicious journey through Italy. Buon appetito!

That’s All for Now

I sincerely hope you’ve enjoyed or got value out of reading this. Please check out some of my other content like some of my recommendations pages. You can subscribe to my newsletter to stay in the loop on latest articles and travel tools, or get to know me a little better by following me on Instagram.